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Activision Announces Apache: Air Assault

Activision is taking its budget-priced 2003 combat helicopter sim Apache AH-64 Air Assault on a new mission. The publisher announced today that Apache: Air Assault is lifting off for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 this fall.

Billed as the first game to take helicopter combat to next-gen consoles, Air Assault will put gamers in control of a number of different Apache attack helicopters and task them with preventing terrorist attacks in the world's most volatile war zones.

"No games on next-gen consoles have been dedicated to helicopter combat simulation, but that is about to change this fall," Activision Publishing's David Oxford said in a statement. "Apache: Air Assault offers fun for diehard military enthusiasts and flight sim fans as well as gamers who just want to blow stuff up."

From Activision:

Apache: Air Assault features more than 16 multi-stage missions involving air and ground strike operations off the coast of Africa, the mountains of the Middle East and the jungles of Central America, each meticulously created using high resolution map data from real-world satellite photography. Apache helicopters are some of the most sophisticated combat aircraft on the planet - the player gets to fly multiple variations of them, each with their own extreme firepower and highly-detailed damage modeling.

The game will include Realistic, Arcade, two-player co-op, and online multiplayer modes. Russian studio Gaijin Entertainment, creators of Birds of Prey, is developing. No word yet on the specific release date.

Sharkey says: The original Apache AH-64 Air Assault game was a $20 PC title that earned a loyal following. That's what made me think this would be a digital download in the $15 ballpark, but Activision's announcement makes it seem like this will be a full retail release. I've pinged Activision and will update when I hear more. UPDATE: I've just confirmed this will be a full retail title.